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Therapy with Kiersten Marek focused on Financial WellnessThu, 03 Nov 2016 20:30:36 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngWelcome to the Financial Living Roomhttps://kierstenmarek.com
Can Philanthropy Help the Feds Bring Sustainable Food Systems to Scale?https://kierstenmarek.com/2016/04/07/can-philanthropy-help-the-feds-bring-sustainable-food-systems-to-scale/
Thu, 07 Apr 2016 17:26:53 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/04/07/can-philanthropy-help-the-feds-bring-sustainable-food-systems-to-scale/Kmareka.com: Farm-to-table is tough when you’re talking about millions of tables. So it’s good to see philanthropy playing an increasing role in creating sustainable food systems, and also to see how a new USDA program is enlisting a fleet of funders to help the local food movement scale up. There’s high…]]>

Farm-to-table is tough when you’re talking about millions of tables. So it’s good to see philanthropy playing an increasing role in creating sustainable food systems, and also to see how a new USDA program is enlisting a fleet of funders to help the local food movement scale up.

There’s high demand these days for fresh food with a low carbon footprint and a nearby farmer’s name on the crate. According to the USDA, the number of farmers markets has grown by 67 percent since 2008, and local and regional food has become a multibillion-dollar market. With growing city populations, struggling rural economies, and the high carbon footprint of industrial agriculture, the stakes are way higher than supplying urbanites with heirloom tomatoes. Getting local food to work is central to sustainability, equity, and public health.

]]>thirdeyetherapyPath to Empowerment: A Women’s Foundation Zeroes in on Economic Security – Inside Philanthropy – Inside Philanthropyhttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/29/path-to-empowerment-a-womens-foundation-zeroes-in-on-economic-security-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/
Tue, 29 Mar 2016 18:37:40 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/29/path-to-empowerment-a-womens-foundation-zeroes-in-on-economic-security-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: Nearly every week at Inside Philanthropy I meet another woman leader who shows me a way that women’s funds and foundations are impacting the philanthropy landscape, and breaking down barriers to equality for women and girls. This week I talked to Roslyn Dawson Thompson, President and CEO of the Dallas Women’s…]]>

Nearly every week at Inside Philanthropy I meet another woman leader who shows me a way that women’s funds and foundations are impacting the philanthropy landscape, and breaking down barriers to equality for women and girls. This week I talked to Roslyn Dawson Thompson, President and CEO of the Dallas Women’s Foundation and the chair of the board of directors of the Women’s Funding Network. Much of our discussion was about the role of economic security in empowering women. “If women are not able to achieve economic security then it has massive implications for workforce development and the economics of every state and the country overall,” said Thompson.

]]>thirdeyetherapy“Now Is Our Chance.” Behind NoVo’s New Big Bet on Girls and Women of Color – Inside Philanthropy – Inside Philanthropyhttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/23/now-is-our-chance-behind-novos-new-big-bet-on-girls-and-women-of-color-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/
Wed, 23 Mar 2016 20:00:56 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/23/now-is-our-chance-behind-novos-new-big-bet-on-girls-and-women-of-color-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: We’ve been closely watching the NoVo Foundation lately for two very good reasons: First, its assets and giving have been surging in recent years, thanks to an influx of Berkshire Hathaway stock from Warren Buffet (and the soaring value of that stock, which also comprises the bulk of NoVo’s endowment).…]]>

We’ve been closely watching the NoVo Foundation lately for two very good reasons: First, its assets and giving have been surging in recent years, thanks to an influx of Berkshire Hathaway stock from Warren Buffet (and the soaring value of that stock, which also comprises the bulk of NoVo’s endowment). And second, the foundation has emerged as the top funder working to address the structural inequities faced by young women and girls of color in the U.S., an area long neglected by philanthropy. What’s more, it’s forged an unusual path in that work, seeking to really engage with the people it hopes to see move upward.

]]>thirdeyetherapyHow Did the World’s Largest Foundation Mark International Women’s Day? – Inside Philanthropy https://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/10/how-did-the-worlds-largest-foundation-mark-international-womens-day-inside-philanthropy/
Thu, 10 Mar 2016 14:42:53 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/10/how-did-the-worlds-largest-foundation-mark-international-womens-day-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: Another big indicator of how women’s empowerment funding is evolving at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation came yesterday, when it announced 19 new grants totaling more than $24 million in support of “innovative approaches to improve the lives and well-being of women and girls worldwide.” Source: How Did the…]]>

Another big indicator of how women’s empowerment funding is evolving at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation came yesterday, when it announced 19 new grants totaling more than $24 million in support of “innovative approaches to improve the lives and well-being of women and girls worldwide.”

]]>thirdeyetherapyPay Attention: The Most Powerful Woman in Philanthropy Is Zeroing in on Gender Equality – Inside Philanthropyhttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/03/pay-attention-the-most-powerful-woman-in-philanthropy-is-zeroing-in-on-gender-equality-inside-philanthropy/
Thu, 03 Mar 2016 18:59:23 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/03/03/pay-attention-the-most-powerful-woman-in-philanthropy-is-zeroing-in-on-gender-equality-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: Many experts have argued that nothing is more important for global development than empowering women to play an equal role in all societies. Lately, that view has growing sway at the world’s biggest foundation. Signs have been emerging for a while now that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is…]]>

Many experts have argued that nothing is more important for global development than empowering women to play an equal role in all societies. Lately, that view has growing sway at the world’s biggest foundation.

Signs have been emerging for a while now that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is giving more attention to women’s empowerment, with Melinda leading this shift—while also becoming more independent in her philanthropy. This could be a very big deal over the long term.

]]>thirdeyetherapyWhat’s the Clinton Foundation Doing for Women’s Empowerment? – Inside Philanthropy https://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/24/whats-the-clinton-foundation-doing-for-womens-empowerment-inside-philanthropy/
Wed, 24 Feb 2016 14:49:17 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/24/whats-the-clinton-foundation-doing-for-womens-empowerment-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: On an unusually warm February day in New York City, the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convened its annual winter meeting, bringing together over 450 leaders across the public and private sectors to discuss and (hopefully) make progress on some of the most difficult challenges of our time. Invited…]]>

On an unusually warm February day in New York City, the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convened its annual winter meeting, bringing together over 450 leaders across the public and private sectors to discuss and (hopefully) make progress on some of the most difficult challenges of our time. Invited to the meeting, I came to observe and learn more about CGI and the foundation’s ongoing strategy for women’s empowerment.

The day’s events included President Bill Clinton in conversation with Chobani yogurt executive Hamdi Ulukaya—who, by the way, is one of IP’s favorite donors for coming to the rescue of Syrian refugees—as well as several topic-specific breakout sessions and a plenary with Chelsea Clinton engaging finance and philanthropy leaders in dialogue about LGBT issues and the refugee crisis. Also on my agenda was an interview with Terri McCullough, Director of the No Ceilings Initiative at the foundation.

]]>thirdeyetherapyHistorical Context to $2.1 Million Grant to Women’s Philanthropy Institutehttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/15/historical-context-to-2-1-million-grant-to-womens-philanthropy-institute/
Mon, 15 Feb 2016 13:43:37 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/15/historical-context-to-2-1-million-grant-to-womens-philanthropy-institute/HistPhil: Editors’ Note: In early January, Inside Philanthropy announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had gifted $2.1 million to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Below, the Institute’s Director Debra Mesch and Associate Director Andrea Pactor provide some historical perspective to the grant. While the history of women’s…]]>

More knowledge about how and why women give is a good thing for the world.

Editors’ Note: In early January, Inside Philanthropy announced that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had gifted $2.1 million to the Women’s Philanthropy Institute at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Below, the Institute’s Director Debra Mesch and Associate Director Andrea Pactor provide some historical perspective to the grant.

While the history of women’s activism through philanthropy is long, the history of empirical research about gender differences in philanthropy is short. Anne Firor Scott recalled in her introduction to Making the Invisible Woman Visible (1984) that the study of the first strand of women’s giving accelerated as a demand for women’s history grew during the early days of the feminist movement in the 1960s. One rich area of study focused on women’s use of voluntary associations to advance civil society. Susan Ware noted that during the 19th century, women “may not have been voters or held political office, but…

]]>Featured Image -- 723thirdeyetherapyThe Color of Money: A Top Bank and Nonprofit Take Aim at the Racial Wealth Divide – Inside Philanthropy https://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/10/the-color-of-money-a-top-bank-and-nonprofit-take-aim-at-the-racial-wealth-divide-inside-philanthropy/
Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:28:40 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/10/the-color-of-money-a-top-bank-and-nonprofit-take-aim-at-the-racial-wealth-divide-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: We started writing about the Corporation for Enterprise Development a year ago, when we talked to its founder, Bob Friedman, about how the organization got its start, and where it is going with addressing asset-building and financial inclusion for low income Americans and people of color. Now, CFED has announced a…]]>

We started writing about the Corporation for Enterprise Development a year ago, when we talked to its founder, Bob Friedman, about how the organization got its start, and where it is going with addressing asset-building and financial inclusion for low income Americans and people of color. Now, CFED has announced a new partnership with JPMorgan Chase & Co. to bring asset building initiatives to multiple cities across the country, starting with New Orleans and Miami this spring.

]]>thirdeyetherapyWho’s in Charge Here? This Donors Network Wants Answers—and Change – Inside Philanthropy – Inside Philanthropyhttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/09/whos-in-charge-here-this-donors-network-wants-answers-and-change-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/
Tue, 09 Feb 2016 20:13:50 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/02/09/whos-in-charge-here-this-donors-network-wants-answers-and-change-inside-philanthropy-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: Listening to Donna Hall, who has been leading the Women Donors Network (WDN) since 2002, you quickly get the sense that she’s someone who has weathered many battles on the frontlines for women’s equality, and that she doesn’t choose the easy fights. It’s like being with someone who wants you…]]>

Listening to Donna Hall, who has been leading the Women Donors Network (WDN) since 2002, you quickly get the sense that she’s someone who has weathered many battles on the frontlines for women’s equality, and that she doesn’t choose the easy fights. It’s like being with someone who wants you to understand the cold, hard truth of continued male dominance, while at the same time giving you a chance to consider what the future may hold if we keep trending in the right direction with women’s leadership.

“When I was at Rockefeller, I worked with a colleague, another woman, and the two of us were trying to get the Rockefeller Foundation to do a large international initiative on women and work, and it never really got off the ground. It’s one of the reasons that organizations like the Women Donors Network formed, to give women’s philanthropy its own place.”

]]>thirdeyetherapyEd Funders Need to Think Bigger About Systemic Change. Here Are Some Ideas – Inside Philanthropyhttps://kierstenmarek.com/2016/01/22/ed-funders-need-to-think-bigger-about-systemic-change-here-are-some-ideas-inside-philanthropy/
Fri, 22 Jan 2016 21:13:07 +0000http://kierstenmarek.com/2016/01/22/ed-funders-need-to-think-bigger-about-systemic-change-here-are-some-ideas-inside-philanthropy/Kmareka.com: Philanthropy’s quest to improve K-12 education feels stuck in a rut. Some of the biggest funders on the scene remain devoted to a reform strategy that so far has failed to yield transformative change, while a range of other funder-backed efforts aren’t yet operating at a scale likely to produce…]]>

Philanthropy’s quest to improve K-12 education feels stuck in a rut. Some of the biggest funders on the scene remain devoted to a reform strategy that so far has failed to yield transformative change, while a range of other funder-backed efforts aren’t yet operating at a scale likely to produce major breakthroughs.“There’s no dramatic change,” Bill Gates told New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof last year, summing up the results of his own foundation’s efforts, which have entailed spending billions of dollars over 15 years.